Stocking



ATTOR N EY f5 /7 lNvENToR U77 /Zag J" May l0, 1932.

W. H. MacNAMEE STOCKING Filed Dec. 16, 1929 WITNESSES Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED s'rxrusA PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. MACNAMEE, 0F YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TRIO SPECIALTY COM- PANY ING., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE sroclcrual Application lei1` December 16, 1929. Serial No. 414,508.

This invention relates to stockings.

It is among the objects of the present 1nvention to provide a novel and improved nonelastic, washable and adjustable surgical stocking or supporter of the type commonly used for supporting limbs by persons aiiicted with varicose veins, phlebitis, swollen or weakened limbs, or weak arches, or as a support following a fracture of the lower limbs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved stocking, which is light, easily adjustable, washable, nonstretchable, and preferably formed of cotton drill, such stocking being so arranged and constructed as to completely cover the ankle, heel and other portions of the foot and leg from the sole of the foot to the knee.

A further object of the invention is provide an improved lacing for stockings of the character described, which will be invisible through silk hosiery. This object of the present invention is provided for by the use of improved flat hooks attached to webbing` and stitched along the inner surface of the stocking in such a. manner that the webbing `with hooks attached sets back from the edge of the stocking sutliciently far so that the edge of the stocking projects beyond the hooks and webbing, thus completely covering them by forming a flap thereover.

A further object of the presentinvention is to provide in a stocking an improved outer tongue or master piece which extends from the lower edge of the stocking up the limb, thus covering the lacings and preventing their being visible through a silk stocking. The master piece also `is adapted to pre- Vent injury to the hosiery due to the lacings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stocking which will be prevented from wrinkling and slipping by the use of steel stays suitably encased within the body ofthe stocking.

The present stocking is further provided with a space of one inch along the entire length of the anterior aspect of the limb, thus providing for adjustment whereby the stocking may be tightened if too loose or loosened if too tight.

Heretofore it has been customary to manufacture such stockings or supporters of an elastic fabric having the heel cut out,.or with a slit at the ankle, at the instep, or over the anterior aspect of the ankle joint, thus leaving these parts exposed and without support. Such elastic stockings are defective and uncomfortable, in that they do not provide support to the blood vessels and ligaments at the points mentioned; and in that they are not adjustable to the Various degrees of swelling of thefoot and limb. In such stockings, the edges of the openings or slits, by means of their elasticity, constrict the blood vessels within the openings, and are apt to chafe and'otherwise irritate the parts about the vankle and instep. Such stockings cannot be washed or properly cleansed without impairing their elasticity and otherwise injuring the fabric, thus destroying their usefulness for the purpose intended. The elastic material soon becomes stretched out of shape, its fibers become broken in places, resulting in loss of support, and thus they last but for a very short time.

Heretofore it has been the-practice to provide laced stockings. However, such laced stockings or supporters which have been manufacturedhave no provision for the prevention of wrinkling or slipping down of the stocking, and the lacing is' very apparent, showing through the hosiery, and the lacing also cuts or also wears holes in the hosiery. In such laced stockings, considerable diiiiculty is found in lacing through the usual eyelets and considerable time is required to lace up or apply the stocking to the limb.

According to this invention, the defects and objections pertaining to elastic stockings, as well as those pertaining to other laced stockings, are overcome by providing a laced stocking or supporter, which is washable, without in any way impairing or destroying any of its qualities. It is made of a material which may be washed, boiled, or otherwise sterilized, and is, therefore, sanitary,-non stretchable, and thus will not lose its shape. The present stocking is also so constructed that it covers the heel and ankle completely;

and it gives support to the blood Vessels, 1ig.

l tongue;

aments and muscles of these parts. By virtue of the improved material used inthe present stocking,it will not chafe, irritate, nor constrict any artof the limbor foot. The stocking of. t e present invention will be seen to be readily adjustable to the various conditions ofthe limb, and is more durable and lighter in weight than an elastic stock- 1ng. Y

A further important feature of the invention is the provision of novel means for rendering the lacings ofthe lstock ing invisible through the usual hosiery.

Other objects and featuresv ofthe present invention will be ap arent from a consideration lof the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-- ings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stockin as applied to a limb;

vigure 2 is a similar view showing the stocking before thelacing is completed and before the-final adjustment of the outer protecting tongue;

Figures-3 is a perspective view of the body of the stocking without the inner or outer Fi 4 isa transverse sectional view showing t e stocking with thel inner and` outer pngues in position before securement to the m r Fig. 5 is a detail perspective'view ofthe novel hook or fastening means; I

Fig. 6 isa sectional view of the hook as applied to one edge of the In the construction of the stockingv of the present invention, a light, non-stretchable, washable fabric is employed, such as cotton drill, duck, canvas, or other non-elastic A material. The fabric is cut to form a leg covering 1, its lower end terminating in a curved extension 2, which serves to cover and support the heel, ankle and dorsum of the foot, as shown in Fig. 1. The stocking is preferably made from two suitably shaped pieces of the material, which are joined together in the back by a seam 3 extending up the back of the leg. The back seam 3 and all the edges of the stocking are suitably reinforced with tape stitched thereon.

Associated with the front edges 6 of the stocking throughout its entire length, a strip of suitable webbing, 5, is attached, to which hooks 7 of special design, as hereinafter described, are secured to provide for lacing and adjusting the stockings upon the limb by means of the lacing 8. lThe webbing"` 5 is stitched to the inner or under surface of both of the edges 6 in such a manner that the webbing 5 and hooks 7 set back from the edge of the stocking, thereby forming a flap,

the upper or outer part of this flap serving to completely cover the webbing 5 and hooks 'y 7, and that portion of the lacing 8 engaged therein. A tongue 9 is made of the same ma-l..

terial and is secured alon on. one-of the edges 6 of tEe stocking in such a manner that when the stockin is applied to the limb, the tongue lies beneat the lacing 8 servlng to prevent chaing of the limb by the lacing. l

The hooks 7, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, are constructed of a suitable, non-rustable material, preferably metal, stamped out in one piece, and consist of an o n or free end 11, a neck 12, an eye13, an a slotted or mortlsed base 14. The free end 11 is so formed that it is of oval lon 'tudinal section, and

its under convex sur ace. is opposed to the upper recessed surface of the base 14, leaving justsuicient. space ,between the end 11'. and the base toreadily en age or disen age the lacing 8. The base 14 going mortise or slotted, serves for the insertion and attachment o f the webbing 5, the upper surface having a depression, which con orms with the sha of the convex portion ofthe end 11, the epression being stamped into the hook at the time of assembling the hook and webbing, and serving'to give eater security to the attachment of the hoo 17 of the base is a't, both the .upper and lower surfaces of the Vbase bein punched with a hole 18 for rivetin to t e webbing. The construction of the ook 7 is such that it is low andllat, sothat 'it may not project above the cloth to anyundesirable extent.

To each'half of the stocking on its inner surface, stays 19 are attached m the vfollowing manner: On each -inner half of the stockingja'strip of webbing 20 is attached by stitching. Extending from a point just Vback of the position occupied by the ankle .The lower surface.

the entire length I upper or top end being left open, thus form" ing a casing into which the stay 19 is inserted. Within the lower end of the casin a felt pad 21 is attached to the lower en of the casing and serves to prevent the lower end `of the stay from chang the limb. The stay is prevented from working out of the casing at the top by stitching or the equivalent.

The cover or master piece 22, as shown 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 4, is constructedof three pieces,

two lower or under pieces 23 and one upper or outer piece 24. The upper piece 1s made of a woolen material so knit that 1t has the quality of being stretchable, but when the tension is released it returns to its original length and shape, and its surface 1s even and smooth. .The twolower or under pieces 23 are lmit from a material of a mixture of wool and Y cotton, the stitch being such that the surfaces of the under pieces 23 have a crepe effect, and althoughnarrower than the upper piece 24, have the same stretchable qualities. The three pieces 23 and 24 areplaced one upon the other and stitched together throughout their entire length and through their center from end to end, and in such a manner that the outer or top piece 24 projects beyond both edges of the under pieces 23. The cover 22 is positioned over the lacings of the stocking, extending from the extreme upper to the lower extremity of the stocking after the stocking has been applied to the limb. In applying the cover or master piece, it is stretched upwardly, the under pieces 23, by means of their crepe surface, filling in the interspaces between the lacing and between the free edges of the stocking, the top piece 24 being smooth, its edges being continuous with the surface of the stocking, thereby rendering the lacing and the free edges of the stocking invisible, and giving to the stocking, as a whole, a smooth and uniform appearance.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a stocking or supporter has been provided, which by merely tightening or loosening the lacing, may be readily adjusted to conform to the shape and conditions of the leg, ankle, foot and instep in such a manner as to give uniform pressure and support to the blood vessels thereof. This stocking or supporter may be made to cover the knee and thigh, if necessary.

According to the present invention, the defects and objections pertaining to the laced stockings heretofore manufactured, are overcome by providing a washable and adjustable laced stocking or supporter which will not slip down or wrinkle under any condition or shape of the limb. The lacing is not ap-v parent. and thus the stocking may be worn under silk hosiery without detection; the lacing will not cut or wear holes in the hoiserv, and the stocking can be quickly applied to the limb and adjusted thereon without the use' of eyelets or eyelet holes into which the lacing is threaded.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the invention is not confined to the specie structural details herein shown and that numerous changes and modifications and the full use of equivalents may 'be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A limb supporting stocking, including a said stocking being open at the front, said opening extending from the top to and through the foot and ankle enclosing member and providing spaced apart front edges, webbing secured along one edge to the inner face of the stocking, the free edges of the webbing being located inwardly of the spaced edges ,of the stocking so that the last mentioned edges will overla the free edges of the webbing, lacing recelving means secured Y to the free edges of the webbing and covered by the edges of the stocking, lacngs cooperating with the lacing receiving means for adjusting the edges of the stocking towards each other, and a cushioning and protecting means covering the lacings and adapted to on each side, said member havlng an inner.

elastic and resilient fabric adapted to embed itself within the spaces of said lacing. WILLIAM H. MACNAM'EE. 

